A banner decorated with words of condolence and love from Newtown educators will be sent to educators in Parkland, Fla.ittakes.us, traveling to the area. He was there with his camera in hand to document the Newtown educators standing together to offer support for their Parkland colleagues. Ms Clements said Mr Quint has been traveling the country, documenting those most effected by gun violence.[naviga:img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-306394" src="https://newtownbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/EH_-Newtown-Educators-Sign-Banner-For-Parkland-Abby-Clements-and-Kitty-Latowicki-WATERMARKED.jpg" alt="EH_ Newtown Educators Sign Banner For Parkland, Clements & Latowicki WATERMARKED" width="800" height="534" /]Head O' Meadow fourth grade teacher Abbey Clements, left, and Newtown High School College/Career Center Coordinator Kitty Latowicki sign a banner during a gathering of Newtown educators in front of Edmond Town Hall on February 21.

A group of current and former Newtown educators met in front of Edmond Town Hall on the sunny clear afternoon of February 21. As the group grew with new arrivals, embraces and shared moments of support were plentiful.

The meeting was a response to the school shooting on February 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, where 17 people were killed.

The February 21 event was organized by Head O' Meadow fourth grade teacher Abbey Clements, former Sandy Hook Elementary School library staffer Mary Ann Jacob, and NHS English teacher Kristin English.

The banner reads, "Newtown Educators Stand With Parkland Educators" in bright green, and it has the image of two black ribbons on it.

The gathered educators filled in the space around the words and ribbons with their signatures and heartfelt messages, including "You are not alone," "Our love and support will be with you always," "Hope for change," and "You are in our hearts and minds."

Another read, "We stand with you. Sending you love, peace, and strength."

Ms Clements and Ms Jacob said the event was a way for Newtown educators to stand together and reach out to a community that has been impacted by gun violence, similar to the way other impacted communities offered Newtown support following the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

Roughly 85 Newtown educators were expected to attend the event.

Ms Clements said the idea of gathering to sign the banner came to her when she was visiting her daughter, Sarah Clements, over the long weekend of February 17.

"I think it is important for Newtown teachers to come together [and] to share their support," said Ms Clements, with Ms Jacob nodding her agreement by her side.

The event had to come together quickly, Ms Jacobs added.

Ms Clements said the idea for the banner perfectly coincided with her friend Joe Quint, the photographer behind the website

After the banner was nearly filled in, the educators gathered together on the steps of Edmond Town Hall to take a group picture.

The banner will be kept at Newtown High School for a few days, to allow the opportunity for educators who could not attend the event to sign it.

-Bee Photo, Hallabeck

[naviga:img class="aligncenter wp-image-306393" src="https://newtownbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/EH_-Newtown-Educators-Sign-Banner-For-Parkland-Jim-Ross-WATERMARKED.jpg" alt="EH_ Newtown Educators Sign Banner For Parkland, Jim Ross WATERMARKED" width="800" height="691" /]

Newtown Middle School Assistant Principal Jim Ross signs the banner.

-Bee Photo, Hallabeck

[naviga:img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-306398" src="https://newtownbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/EH_-Newtown-Educators-Sign-Banner-For-Parkland-group-making-hearts-WATERMARKED-NEW.jpg" alt="EH_ Newtown Educators Sign Banner For Parkland, group making hearts WATERMARKED NEW" width="800" height="388" /]

Newtown educators hold their hands in the shape of hearts Wednesday afternoon, conveying a message of love and support to their contemporaries in Parkland.

-Bee Photo, Hallabeck